The City of Valdosta says it will maintain its forthcoming trash trap location on Two Mile Branch at Berkley Drive.

Picture and Map, Two Mile Branch @ Berkeley Drive

City Engineer Benjamin O’Dowd also write that the city had cleaned up some trash there with a vac truck. He thanked volunteer Russell Allen McBride for his cleanup of the trash trap on Sugar Creek.

WWALS thanks the Engineer and the City for all those things.

These are some small steps towards keeping trash out of the Withlacoochee River, for example out of the path of next week’s Mayor and Chairman’s Paddle.

Map: Two Mile Branch to Sugar Creek and Withlacoochee River in the WWALS map of the Withlacoochee and Little River Water Trail.
Berkley Drive at Two Mile Branch is highlighted towards the top right.

The Engineer did not say that the city would take over cleaning out the Sugar Creek trash trap.

And it is not clear from his text of image that the city cleaned up the trash in the woods that was the subject of seeclickfix #14065310.

The new material in that ticket is below.

He also did not address the spray question raised in the same ticket. The city did return documents about spray in response to my open records request. I will publish them tomorrow.

FYI: I sent the previous post to GA-EPD in Atlanta, which forwarded them to Valdosta Stormwater Division, which is in Engineering.

Benjamin O’Dowd
2/22/23 12:48:54 PM Flag
Verified Official

All,

Thank you for your continued feedback!

We had our Stormwater Division staff go by yesterday and remove as much litter as practicable from the roadside with the Vac-Con. See attached photo. We will continue to monitor this area following rain events.

Two Mile Branch @ Berkeley Drive by City of Valdosta

Regarding the WG location at Sugar Creek, the City is very thankful for Russell McBride’s continued volunteer efforts to maintain this Watergoat. We purchased the upgraded marine-grade model at his recommendation after staff consideration.

Once relocated, the small WG will be located on the downstream side of the Berkley crossing and will be maintained by the City and checked following rain events in conjunction with our other trash traps.

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Jwranch
2/22/23 2:56:17 PM Flag
Registered User

Thanks for the update and planned action take and to he taken. It means alot to get our waterways in better condition for everyone and everything concerned. The spraying wasnt addressed, but I hope yall are using something safe for wet areas, if there truly is such a thing.

Small steps are good.

Many more steps for the City of Valdosta to go.

 -jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®

You can help with clean, swimmable, fishable, drinkable, water in the 10,000-square-mile Suwannee River Basin in Florida and Georgia by becoming a WWALS member today!
https://wwals.net/donations/

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